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April 2005's Diva
Lela
of Bella Luccè
About... Bella Luccè unlocks the secret to exquisite skin by sourcing some of the most exotic ingredients on the planet: rhassoul clay mined beneath the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, macadamia nut and passion fruit oils cold-pressed in Hawaii, unrefined shea butter imported from Ghana and salts collected from the Dead Sea in Israel. We've incorporated raw materials from 26 countries on 6 continents to create our decadent collection of innovative products. We invite you to explore the philosophy behind Bella Luccè and join us in a celebration of healthy, radiant, beautiful skin.
The review... OK - here it is. I have one itsy, bitsy complaint.... After using the cranberry sugar scrub in the shower I found absolutely no need for the body mousse afterwards. My normally dry-as-the-Sahara-desert skin was so soft and smooth!!! I applied the body mousse anyway (it just smelled so dang good!) and my skin has never felt better!!! And I don't think I've ever smelled this yummy. Seriously. I am so in love right now with Bella Luccè..... can I win the prize?? LOL ~Trixie
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The Gallery
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The Interview
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The Basic Lowdown:
Girlposse.com: Who are you?
Lela of Bella Luccè: I am 29 year old workaholic; a mother to two spunky lil' girls and a hopeless entrepreneur.
Girlposse.com: Where are you located?
Lela of Bella Luccè: Columbia, SC
Girlposse.com: What is your creation / business?
Lela of Bella Luccè: ? I founded a company called Bella Luccè. We sell our handmade, globally inspired skincare to spas, salons and gift boutiques around the country.
Girlposse.com: Where can people buy your stuff?
Lela of Bella Luccè: You can pick up the full collection through our website at www.bellalucce.com. In addition, we have retail locations in 23 states, the UK, Germany and throughout Arabia. You can cruise our current locations here: www.bellalucce.com/help.php?section=retail
Girlposse.com: Tell us something about yourself - your personality:
Lela of Bella Luccè: I love carbs and hate exercise, but I can tolerate yoga. I almost always wear black - my husband says I look like I am attending a funeral every day….ha. I have a thing for good shoes and handbags. I want to die with a mouth full of Krispy Kreme doughnuts while getting a facial, surrounded by my family. Not a bad way to go, eh? :)
The Nitty Gritty:
Girlposse.com: How did you first become interested in creating skin care products?
Lela of Bella Luccè: My sister developed some tumors in her breast several years ago and, because of her experiences and treatment, I began to research more about what we put on and in our bodies. Unmoved by the "natural" skincare alternatives on the market at the time, I threw together a batch of lotion from a recipe I found online.
Girlposse.com: How do your products stand apart from similar ones?
Lela of Bella Luccè: There are a slew of great products out there and so many options from which to choose. From my collection, I really draw inspiration from rare ingredients that aren't commonly found on the American market- Argiletz and Moroccan clays, bamboo powder, French cocoa absolute, unusual botanical extracts and rich African butters.
Girlposse.com: How long have you been doing this?
Lela of Bella Luccè: ? I made my first batch of lotion in April 2001 and Bella Luccè was officially launched in September 2003
Girlposse.com: Beginning a business is a big step. How did this become a "business" vs. just a "hobby""?
Lela of Bella Luccè: I sent that first lotion I made to my sister and she loved it. Soon we had Mom hooked, too. I gave it to friends every holiday for the next few years- it was a wonderful creative outlet for me. A few years later, I became a single Mom and was searching for a way to create an income that would allow me to stay home with my young children. One day when I was feeling particularly bold, I decided to turn my hobby into a business and Bella Luccè was born! Little did I know what I was getting into at the time.
Girlposse.com: Did you have previous business experience - or was the business end new to you?
Lela of Bella Luccè: I owned an interior furnishings supply company before starting Bella Luccè. Really incredible linens, fixtures, rugs, etc. But it was such a small venture and the challenges it presented were very different than I've encountered while running a skincare company. No formal business training, but I was the always that neighborhood kid who set up their lemonade stand every year the first spring day that the mercury broke 65.
Girlposse.com: How does the internet play a part of your business?
Lela of Bella Luccè: I really don't think I'd have a business without the internet. *shudder* It's how prospective clients find me, existing clients get their fix, I learn about my craft and promote my company.
Girlposse.com: What was (is) your biggest obstacle in selling what you create?
Lela of Bella Luccè: I don't know if it's the biggest, but I think it may well be the most frustrating: the miseducation of the public regarding cosmetics. That word "natural" gets thrown around a whoooole lot more than it should. I am slowly learning to tackle it, but it's a struggle.
Girlposse.com: Are there any plans to expand your product line?
Lela of Bella Luccè: Absolutely! I love the process of creating new goodies and we launch new products every few months. Just this month, as part of our Spring collection, we debuted a delicious bath elixir called Manuka Honey Drizzle and an awesome Bali Kopi Coffee Scrub.
Girlposse.com: Where do you see your business in 1 year? 5 years?
Lela of Bella Luccè: That's so hard to predict…I've been wrong with just about every prediction I've made with this company, so dare I venture to guess? *LOL* Hopefully, we'll expand the number of retail outlets which carry the product and I'll be sleeping more than 5 hours a night. In 10 years, I hope to be on a beach somewhere sipping fruity drinks with little umbrellas.
Girlposse.com: What keeps you going on a bad day?
Lela of Bella Luccè: My kids. I have pictures of them and their preschool artwork all over the office. When things get really rough, we take a "mental health day" and I spring them out of school and head to the park for a bit.
Girlposse.com: Where are some of your favorite places to shop?
Lela of Bella Luccè: My trendy factor has plummeted since starting the business…I just don't have time anymore! But I still manage to duck into Banana Republic on occasion and I flip through J. Jill catalogues in bed.
Girlposse.com: What was the best piece of advice you've been given?
Lela of Bella Luccè: ? To delegate the tasks I know nothing about. I wish I was a gifted photographer, web designer and graphic artist. But I'm not…so I focus on what I know and outsource the rest. It makes for a lot less nail-biting for me and a much nicer finished product.
Girlposse.com: What advice would you give to a future Crafty Diva?
Lela of Bella Luccè: To never, ever give up. You are your only limitation and you're completely in control of your future. It took me a while to learn that….
Girlposse.com: Are they any other Crafty Divas or Entrepreneurial Empresses we should know
about?
Lela of Bella Luccè: Probably THE coolest chick I know- and she makes a mean bar of soap to boot: Brooke from Villainess (www.villainess.net)!
~April 2005
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Your Chance to Win!
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From now until April 30, 2005 Lela is giving you a chance to win!
All the elements for a decadent bath, including: Manuka Honey Drizzle, Cranberry-Yuzu Sugar Scrub and Coconut Lemongrass Body Mousse. Retail value is $57
Visit our Contests area for details and to enter. Good luck!
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Are you a Crafty Diva and Entrepreneurial Empress? Or do you know one that should be featured in a future Girlposse.com issue? If so, visit our Crafty Diva Info Page for the details.
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2005 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
2004 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
2003 Crafty Divas Hall of Fame
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